174k views
3 votes
While conversing with family members at your Zoom Thanksgiving dinner, your cousin Adelbert says that he read that the best and most compelling evidence for the reality of evolution is in the molecular realm. He has remembered that you are taking a class in evolution so he asks for your opinion on this matter. Assess the strength of molecular evidence for the reality of evolution and describe which lines of evidence you find most compelling. If you find none of them compelling, discuss the scientific reasons why those lines of evidence are not convincing and why Adelbert should stick with his own line of work (testing air hoses) and leave the biology to you.

User SDReyes
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The molecular evidence for evolution is compelling and extensive. Scientists use molecular clocks and compare DNA sequences to determine relationships between species.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecular evidence for evolution is indeed compelling and extensive. By examining the molecules and DNA found in all living things, scientists have confirmed conclusions about evolution drawn from other forms of evidence. One of the most significant pieces of evidence is the use of molecular clocks, which calculate the number of differences in DNA or amino acid sequences between species to determine how closely related they are. The fewer the differences, the less time has passed since the species split and began to evolve into different species.

Other lines of molecular evidence include comparing DNA sequences between species to reveal similarities and differences, studying the genetic similarities between different organisms that suggest a common ancestry, and analyzing the distribution patterns of certain genes and proteins across different species.

Overall, the molecular evidence provides a clear and precise method for understanding the relationships between different species and their evolutionary history. It complements other types of evidence, such as fossils and comparative anatomy, to paint a comprehensive picture of the reality of evolution.

User Lunochkin
by
7.8k points